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A diver in the pike position (legs straight, hands on
Chapter 12, Problem 12CQ(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 12CQ
A diver in the pike position (legs straight, hands on ankles) usually makes only one or one-and-a-half rotations. To make two or three rotations, the diver goes into a tuck position (knees bent, body curled up tight). Why?
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 12CQ
A diver in the pike position (legs straight, hands on ankles) usually makes only one or one-and-a-half rotations. To make two or three rotations, the diver goes into a tuck position (knees bent, body curled up tight). Why?
ANSWER:
Step 1 of 2
The diver in the tuck position can make two or three rotations whereas the same diver could make less than 2 rotations in the pike position.
The reason is the moment of inertia of the two positions. The diver in the tuck position could have less moment of inertia. Since the angular speed of the diver is inversely proportional to the moment of inertia, she will make more rotations for the constant angular momentum.